About The Petition

Sign The Petition

Please Complete in English Language

Dear compatriots and friends!

The Board of Directors of the Russian American Cultural Center of Florida, with the support of numerous Florida-based Russian businesses and organizations, has come forward with an initiative to petition the Russian Embassy in the United States and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to create an Honorary Consulate of the Russian Federation in Florida, headed by Mr. Jeffery Gray, a well-known businessman, community organizer and philanthropist in the Russian community. This project requires significant public support and financial resources. In order to take the project forward and facilitate the review of the petition, we must collect as many signatures as possible in support of the initiative. We urge you to support this initiative and sign the petition.

Jeffery Gray

Functions of the Honorary Consulate

Assist in strengthening connections and collaboration between Russia and the USA.

Distribute comprehensive and reliable information about life in modern-day Russia.

Support the activities of the Russian community in the State of Florida.

If so required, provide Consular services and temporary assistance to citizens and residents of Florida regarding various Russian matters and affairs.

Facilitate the expansion of business and economic relationships between Russia and Florida, as well as exchanges in culture, art, healthcare, and tourism.

Duties of the Honorary Consul

The Honorary Consulate works for the public on a voluntary basis. The Honorary Consul does not receive remuneration from the Russian government. Moreover, the Honorary Consul takes financial responsibility for establishing and maintaining the Honorary Consulate. The Honorary Consul reports to the Russian Embassy in the United States and supports the interests of the Russian Federation. The Honorary Consul may be either a Russian citizen or US citizen. Permission and recognition from the United States government is one of the requirements. It is worth noting that the title of Honorary Consul is not only very prestigious, but also a role that involves a significant amount of public service and responsibility.

About Our Candidate for the Post of Honorary Consul

Mr. Jeffery “Jef” Gray – a worthy candidate for the post of Honorary Consul from Russia to the State of Florida

Mr. Gray is exceptionally well-known in the Russian community in central Florida and, in addition to carrying significant weight with the community, he enjoys an excellent reputation. Most importantly, he, an American citizen born in the USA, truly loves Russia and studies Russian language and culture. Jef has made, and continues to make, significant contributions towards the organization of various projects for the benefit of Russian compatriots, the promotion of Russian culture in the US, and the education of the US public about Russia’s rich cultural heritage.

In the course of his public service, working without compensation, Jef Gray has been the Director of the Orlando Russian culture society from September 2004 to the present day. From May 2010, he has served as the founder and President of the Russian-American Community Center of Florida. Thanks to his efforts, in August 2010, the first school of Russian language and culture for children opened in Orlando. Under his direction, in January 2011, the Russian- American Community Center of Florida opened a Russian public library, which, to this day remains the only such library in Florida. As of today, the library’s catalog contains more than 2,000 books.

His public service for the benefit of the Russian-speaking community of Florida includes participation in numerous charitable events, interviews with radio stations such as CBS Radio, Radio Disney and the Voice of Russia, participation in the 4th Annual Forum of Russian Compatriots in August 2012, as well as the organization of an authorized local voting precinct, which enabled Russian citizens living in Florida to participate in the Presidential Election of the Russian Federation in March 2012. Currently, Mr. Jef Gray, together with a team of lawyers and activists of the Russian-American Community Center of Florida is also working on the founding and opening of a Russian charter school in the city of Orlando.

Mr. Gray has a long list of business accolades as well. In 2007, he became one of the founders and executives of American Experience, a Russian-American tourism and translation agency. Since April of 2010, he has published a popular Russian-language online magazine called Florida Russian Lifestyle. In addition, Jef, a highly-skilled IT professional, is currently the Vice President of Information Technology at Kissimmee Utilities Authority, a major utility company. Mr. Gray’s activities constitute a long list of public contributions and accomplishments.

In addition to occupying a visible public role in the State of Florida, Jef Gray has the necessary qualifications for public service and is well-positioned to perform the duties of the Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation in the State of Florida.

Let’s support this project together! Let’s do everything we can to strengthen the relationship between Russia and the United States and encourage deeper connections between the two countries in economic, cultural and social affairs.

Please sign this petition and spread the word to your friends, so they may also sign!

Thank you for your support.

Board of Directors of the Russian-American Community Center of Florida